Georgia Hiking Trip - Day 7

Woke up early, ate breakfast (leftovers) in the room, packed up and left the hotel at 0730.  Headed out of Franklin (maybe for the last time?), using US-64 to reach the Standing Indian Campground area.  Took USFS-67 (seven miles of gravel) to reach the trailhead for the Betty Creek Gap Trail - had to cross a stream (driving through it) and dodge some cars that were descending from the ridge on the narrow road. I’d previously determined that it was only a 0.2 mile walk to the AT from there and that brightened the prospects for finishing the last section of the trail I had left in the area.  I headed into the woods at 0815 and was very quickly hiking SOBO on the AT.  Temps were in the mid 50s but weather was overcast, windy and damp (sprinkles) - I wore a light jacket initially to ward off the elements but soon removed it. Passed four young people camping at Betty Creek Gap but never saw the trio of guys from the previous two days.  The first half of the day involved a climb up Ridgepole Mountain.  The AT crossed the 5000 foot peak just a hundred feet below  the summit (no side trail to crack 5K, unfortunately) - it wasn’t as tall as Standing Indian but I still found myself walking inside a dense cloud.  The wind was really strong but, fortunately, the trail followed the ridge on the leeward side.  The AT got really close to the Georgia border in this area but I don't think I left North Carolina...  I encountered the backpacking couple I’d seen on the previous two days - we all laughed at how they kept seeing me everywhere they went.  Found someone’s backpack (covered with a tarp) near the summit - I’m sure there is an interesting story connected to that...  No views from the top but that made it easier to keep going.  Made really good time on the way downhill - I did have to navigate around a huge tree blowdown area (yikes).  Oh - and there were LOTS of roots!  Otherwise, I was going so fast that I completely missed one of my navigational checkpoints: Coleman Gap.  I had planned to use my (rather unreliable) pedometer to count off the last half mile but I ended up having to rely on deja vu again to find my turnaround point (a stream in a little “hollow”).  Fortunately, I’d taken a photo where I started the backtrack yesterday - I was able to line up rocks, twigs and leaves (no kidding: they didn’t move in 24 hours) to verify I was in the right place.  I started my backtrack immediately and found the sign for the gap I’d missed on the way back.  The sun came out for a little bit and I started to get views from the ridgeline - it was a bit nostalgic to be able to see all the peaks and valleys I’d traversed in over six years worth of visits...  Passed more hikers on the way back: group of four young backpackers (I wondered later if they might be the kids I’d last seen in Maine but we’ll never know); two guys out for a weekend overnight; and two solo guy backpackers who were all business and no chit-chat.  Otherwise, I was alone and enjoyed the solitude.  After a few days on the trail, my legs were feeling pretty good.  As a result, I made excellent time, arriving back at my car at 1300 after almost 12 miles.  It wasn’t the completion of a state but it’s still a big milestone - I don’t have any more AT left south of the Smokies.  After finishing, I changed clothes and started down the mountain.  Had to dodge cars again on the narrow, gravel road to reach US-64.  Headed back towards Franklin and made an internet stop (to make reservations for the night).  I also ate some food I had in the car - a late lunch (or early dinner).  Since future hikes south of Virginia will center in the area of Max Patch (southeast of Newport, TN), so I decided to head in that direction (with a detour through the Smokies).  Used US-64/US-23 to US-441 (and US-74) to reach Cherokee.  Then took US-19 for a short distance until I was able to find the Rodeway Inn, where I'd reserved a room.  I checked in at 1530 - they gave me an upgraded room (suite with river view)!  I cleaned up for about an hour and then got a phone call from Mollie.  We talked for a while and then I rested, read and journaled.  Before bed at 2330, I watched some movies on my phone.  Hoping for a nice hike in good weather tomorrow! AT Today = 5.8 miles / G.T. AT = 1756.0 miles